Amy Latawiec, a Wayne State University writing instructor, opened Rebel Cycle Studio in Detroit's lower east side to offer cycling classes to the community that promotes body-positive fitness.

A 35-year-old Wayne State University writing instructor is offering more classes outside of her day job.

Amy Latawiec invested $40,000 to launch Rebel Cycle Studio LLC in the Detroit City Fieldhouse in Detroit's lower east side. The new fitness center's mission is to "shatter perceptions of what healthy 'looks' like" by promoting a supportive, body-positive environment in cycling classes for beginners to experts.

The indoor cycle studio won a $5,000 grant from Motor City Match in August to get the off the ground. Other funding comes from $4,000 in technical assistance, which was used for legal and search engine optimization services, and equity, Latawiec said. She did not disclose the length of the lease at the Fieldhouse, which was opened earlier this month by Detroit City FC.

Rebel Cycle Studio held its first class Wednesday and is gearing up for an Oct. 20 grand opening. The studio has 16 cycles from Vancouver, Wash.-based Schwinn Bicycle Co. Classes are pay-per-session and include 30- to 60-minute workouts.

Latawiec, a former triathlete who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2012, was inspired to open the studio as a graduate student at Wayne State University. She earned bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees from the Detroit college.

"In order to get through graduate school, I dove into fitness for my mental health," she said. "I never found a [gym] where I felt at home in terms of its mission. I always felt it focused on the body. To me it's more important than that. It's about our mental health, physical health and well-being."

Rebel Cycle Studio has contracted three instructors. Latawiec is also an AFAA- and Schwinn-certified cycling instructor.

She said she turned to fellow Build Institute participant Redbird Detroit LLC for architecture and design in the 800-square-foot cycle center. Independent contractor Dustin Donegan was hired for the build-out, Latawiec said.

Latawiec also has also completed TechTown Retail Boot Camp and SWOT City entrepreneur programs.

The new entrepreneur has no intentions on leaving the WSU classroom, which she says will continue to be her main breadwinner. While she expects about $50,000 in revenue in 2019 and wants to grow, her main vision is to help the community.

"I love what I do, I love my university," she said. "I want to pay for additional training of the people that work for me. I'm thinking about the people first. [Money] is not part of my mission right now."